Royal Sovereign Pencil Co
of 82 St. Thomas Street, London, SE1. (1922)
of Britannia Pencil Works, Neasden, London, NW10. Telephone: Willesden 2407-8. Cables: "Omnimodus, London". (1929)
Manufacturers and distributors of stationery and office requisites (1969)
1920 the Royal Sovereign Pencil Company was formed by amalgamation of two of the leading pencil manufacturers in England, B. S. Cohen and E. Wolff and Sons. The first managing director was Mr. Arthur Johnson
1922 Listed Exhibitor British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of the "Royal Sovereign," "Bank of England," "Spanish Graphite," "Imperial," "Alexandra," and all kinds of Blacklead, Carbon and Coloured Pencils, Crayons and Chalks. (Stand No. K.153) [1]
1926 On the death of Arthur Johnson, Mr. Percy Charnaud succeeded as managing director
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Royal Sovereign Pencils, Bank of England, Spanish Graphite, Blacklead and Coloured Pencils, Pencils for writing on glass, china and all highly polished surfaces, Pastels, Crayons, and Penholders. (Stand No. R.26) [2]
1934 See Royal Sovereign Pencil Co: 1934 Review
1938 Patent - Improved construction of box or carton.
1940 Patent - Improvements in and relating to cases, cartons and the like.
1966 The pencil-making part of the business was put into a joint venture with Staedtler of Germany. More than half of the business of the new company would be in colour crayons and drawing equipment, rapdily expanding areas[3]
1967 Acquired some subsidiaries; also Henry Stephens[4]
1968 Rights issue to fund continued expansion
1968 Acquired Magic Marker Corporation (UK)[5]
1969 Acquired Adhesive and Allied Products Ltd, Rayweir Products (Successors) Ltd and a substantial interest in the Australian company Pensford, Newman and Benson Ltd[6]
1972 Reduced its interests in Staedtler-Sovereign, to 49 percent from 51 percent[7]
1973 Name changed to Royal Sovereign Group[8]
1976 Royal Sovereign Group was acquired by DRG[9]